54 thoughts on “Hawaii Tourist Or Resident Misbehavior – What’s Worse?”
David R
Having spent 6 years of my youth on Oahu, I know firsthand there is an undercurrent of resentment that exist toward “haoles” on the islands. It is now being exacerbated by the overwhelming number of “haoles” visiting the islands post-Covid. When you’re not welcomed in the first place by many islanders, emotions often surface at the disrespect (real or imagined) haoles might display. The instances you cited are prevalent everywhere in everyone, Islanders or haoles. But when many locals have little regard for their temporary visitors to begin with, then reactions can get overblown. People who misbehave in public are selfish idiots everyday, not just when they visit the islands.
Interesting choice of terms. Never forget that Malahinis are often Hoales. Just having a local Drivers License does not mean one is of the land. Distrust of Hoales is a feature of the cultures of Island Peoples as it is with the Japanese, the British etc etc.
It still smells of racism to call someone a hoale or to refer to oneself as a local as if that somehow makes ones-self better then another. Also, Those coming to the island are not the only ones with a sense of entitlement, Hawaiians themselves express this attitude toward the land which, like it or not is a U.S. state. Every society has a footprint of having been conquered and taken over by some other people group. Mainlanders are visitors not intruders. Lets educate both side of the asile. Airlines can hand out visitor Education pamphlets and TV & schools can educate islanders but in the end you will still have blunted intelligence on both sides as it is human nature but education can help reduce the impact of blunted intelligence.
Our family visited the Big Island in 2018, staying on the Kona coast in a condo looking inland to the valley between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa with the town of Waikoloa visible in the distance… spectacular vista. It was the best vacation we had. With prices ever increasing and bad behavior erupting all around, I doubt we’ll return. There’s just too many people wanting the same limited things.
Maybe on the flights to Hawaii there can be done literature on what is polite as a tourist. Might sound simple but a simple reminder might work. I love Hawaii and would never want to disrespect it
I gotta say some of the locals need to pay more respect to the country side ,I have never seen so many abandoned cars and large appliances on the side of the road until I visited Hawaii.
Let’s not forget that most people living in Hawai’i are not native Hawaiian. Many Filipinos, Asian Pacific, Japanese descent, European descent, and a mix of all. Most likely the original Hawaiian people would be very disappointed on what happened to their land , beaches and Ocean. One time I was driving from Waipio along the road, and on one of the turnouts I saw a local boy throwing plastic trash bags over the cliff into the ocean. He was basically using that spot as a dump because he didn’t want to pay for trash removal. It’s sad because most of that stuff will never be recovered it will just be on that cliffside in the trees, with some of it reaching the ocean. This plastic waste could be around for hundreds of years to come.
I end up having to drive the saddle highway (Daniel K Inouye Hwy) on the big island every Friday to Kona and back to Hilo More or less for the last 10 years. I’ve been a part of highway cleanup efforts so I always make note of the amount of trash on the side of the road between certain mile markers on my way up (I’m kind of a nerd I know). These trips continued through the shutdown during the great absence of tourists. What did I observe? The amount of new trash on the side of the road every week was actually worse during the shutdown. Giving my personal observations, tourists are not the litter bugs. I wonder how many other bad behaviors are misplaced on them. Just a thought!
We have visited Kauai for many years. Have never encountered rudeness, nor felt threatened anywhere we have been. We thought maybe we were just lucky..but friends we’ve made on the Island told us it is what we bring to the table…
Maybe you missed the Resident parking only on a beach that doesn’t have resident parking only, or maybe you missed the sign that says stop stealing the glass from glass beach when in reality it comes from trash pulled into the ocean and washing back up and if you didn’t pick it up someone else would you simply can not end glass and shell collecting. By in large most people have no trouble when they come to Kauai, but does Kauai have an attitude problem, yes it does
As Hawai’i becomes more & more crowded with not only tourists, and tour companies which do tend to over exploit snorkeling spots, and other habitats like Manta feeding zones, & small beaches & coves- it is also just the volume of people now living in Hawai’i. The more people,the more chance for littering,& foolish, disrespectful conduct. Fishing line, fishing hooks, plastic containers, straws, water bottles, littered on the roadsides,and coastline are not all tourists of course. I guess most people in general within a population just don’t care that much. Living or visiting paradise comes with a certain amount of awareness and class. We’ll never be able to change everyone’s behavior,But We can do away with al single use plastics until then!
My wife and I recently visited Maui for our 25th anniversary. Never been to Hawaii and being temperature deprived Canadians, we were super excited for this trip. For the most part, the staff at hotels and restaurants were very friendly and open as well as some locals. The animosity that we did experience was the honking, swearing, illegal passing local on the road to Hana. How dare we stick to the posted speed limit! A sticker on a local surfer’s truck, “Welcome to Hawaii, now leave”. Or a self appointed sign, warning tourists from using parking space, reserved for local surfer’s. Despite that and the number of abandoned vehicles and the heartbreaking number of homeless, we enjoyed ourselves and gained a love for the land and rich culture.
My great grandparents came here as immigrants about a hundred years ago. We live comfortably and raised our two children here. There are limited job opportunities here with crazy housing prices and the cost of living in general. I work in the tourism industry and can honestly say not all the locals are out to terrorize you visitors. The Aloha Spirit is still alive but many of our youth are looking to blame someone for not being able to afford to live in the paradise they were born into. To sum it up, I would say we all can do better.
I will have 5 yrs on Maui this July.
I think I experienced what alot of locals are upset about by tourism.
When covid hit, and it was only locals here for a little over a year, the beaches weren’t crowded, the streets weren’t crowded. We all got to experience our home with our neighbors.
For myself, it was the best experience I’ve had here.
Then the gates open up and twice of many people are here. I go to the Kam beaches now, and feel like the only local there.
I have to move out of Kihei before I push down a tent someone sets up in front of me at the beach. This feeling of living Aloha with my neighbors, has wiped away Aloha for visitors.
My husband and I sold our house and needed somewhere to live for the winter. We thought about it and decided why not Hawaii? We rented a condo and had our car shipped over. The very day that we picked up our car, someone keyed it! We still had our California plates on it as we were going to the DMV the next day to get Hawaii plates. We soon realized that there was a definite prejudice towards Californians and decided not to tell locals who asked where we were from. We had nothing but respect for this incredibly beautiful and sacred place to the point where we didn’t go to beaches on Sunday’s so the locals could enjoy it with their families etc. Respect has to go both ways though. Like it or not, Hawaii is part of the USA!
Hi there! The timing of this article is so funny because my husband and I along with another couple visited Oahu in 2021 and then Maui just last month. We were just talking about all of the trash (abandoned cars and washing machines, dryers, other large appliances) that dot the roads on both islands. I diligently read BOH and other articles where the government and other locals blame the tourists for not respecting the land and the safety of the environment, but we were all pretty certain that it wasn’t tourists bringing their appliances/large trash to discard on the highways of the islands. We All have to do our part, we will continue to do so. Thanks so much BOH for all of your articles!
We have visited Kauai for many years. Have never encountered rudeness, nor felt threatened anywhere we have been. We thought maybe we were just lucky..but friends we’ve made on the Island told us it is what we bring to the table…
I’ve lived in Hawaii for most of my life. My observation is that most visitors act respectfully in Hawaii. I am saddened by the increasingly hostile behavior of residents.I drive a small car and feel unsafe and bullied on the roads by tailgating and squeezed into parking monopolized by large trucks.I feel like the quality of life in Hawaii has deteriorated because of the lack of civility.
Ditch HI and go to Mexico! The people are so friendly and want you to come there because it raises their standard of living. And Mexico is so gorgeous! I always try to speak Spanish and they are always so appreciative. I’m done with the faux Polynesian “culture” on the islands. Mexico is authentic and welcoming.
Hello. I’m a Caucasian resident of Oahu. Been here 8ish years. I’m not military so I actually live here. I came here to raise my family. We own a nice house. By and large, this move was a huge success. We are all pretty happy here. But, a person not born here begins to notice things after a while. The natives are generally not ok with white people, tourists or other. They call people like me “haole” and it’s usually said with an F-bomb preceding it. Hawaiians are quietly racist and many still say the “you stole My aina” stuff. Then they trash the place with burned cars and garbage everywhere. So, uh, what? They also sell clothing here called “Defend Hawaii” and it’s clearly directed at white people- bc I asked and it got real awkward quickl
Respect. Respect for nature, both the land and the animals. Respect for people; those who live in the area and are graciously sharing their home with visitors, those who work in hospitality and are trying to meet the needs of those visiting and the needs of the companies they work for, and those who are choosing to spend a good portion of their income to briefly experience this unique location while relaxing and recharging from their own hectic and burdened lives back home.
Understanding. Understanding that often what benefits one simultaneously burdens another. Understanding that it is often hard to see how your own wants, needs and desires could possibly ‘burden’ another.
My husband and I have been visiting all of the islands fir 20+ years. The last 10 years we have settled on our favorite location which is renting condos in the Mauna Lani area several times a year. Unfortunately the cost of everything in Hawaii has become offensive. We can afford the high costs but choose not to. So we now spend our beach vacations in Costa Rica or the Caribbean. We do miss Hawaii but don’t know when we will return.
Yet another “Us vs. Them“ article. Sigh…I’ll play anyway (I have no shame). As a long-standing resident of Hawaii, I believe that this is a complex, dynamic problem that is mostly rooted in economics. The financially stressed locals resent tourists since in their eyes tourists perpetuate the service economy that will never offer a true living wage. The tourists resent the “uppity” locals because they feel they are owed deference, given the very high cost of vacationing in Hawaii. Watching all of this from the sidelines, laughing, are the mega corporations (airlines, hotels, realty). None of this will change until Hawaii figures out how to shift its economy from tourism to something else. I hope that it happens in my lifetime (probably not).
Aloha. Thank you for this great article. I forwarded it on to many people, some who live on BI, and others here in CA. I lived on the BI till March this year. Sad to leave, yes, but all you mention about residents has been my personal experience. I moved there in 2007. I was always diligent and paid trash fees. Recycled. Etc. The garbage on the roads didn’t go unnoticed however. These were not “tourists”. These are angry locals. I have been almost run off of twisty roads, been treated rudely, and in some cases, ignored. My feeling in this is, if you don’t like it, go somewhere else. Natives, locals, Live Aloha, don’t blame others for your anguish.
With alelo ma ka papalina, let me offer some suggestions to the topic of toxic tourists and residents.
If caught touching an endangered creature have a creature touch them (like a jellyfish).
If caught biting a police officer or flight attendent have a Hawaiian bite them (like a tiger shark).
If caught urinating in public let the public urinate on them.
Too harsh? Maybe.
However, disorderly behavior causing flight deviation/physical restrant the perp will be placed on the TSA No Fly List. Sanction length to be determined by the victims, the fellow passengers.
Felonious conduct in Hawaii by tourists should be punished with a lifetime ban to return at the conclusion to their imprisonment.
It’s up to you Hawaii, your house, your rules.
I am so sorry to read about these happenings. As travelers, we try in every way to respect the place we’re visiting and to get in touch with the culture. We love Hawaii, however, since COVID and since the increase in costs, we’ve redirected our travel dollar to South America, Europe and Costa Rica. We had several disconcerting experiences with locals on our last visit. We were heading down to the beach area and got sidetracked on a small road and attempted to turn around. The local out in his yard was very rude to us. Driving down from Hana, we were tailgated by a local in a huge 4-wheeler with giant tires. He revved his engine all the way down. Clearly, a lot of animosity toward tourists.
My first visit to Hawaii was in 1972. Since then I have returned almost every year. Two summers I took post graduate classes at the University. A few years before the Pandemic I started to feel less welcomed. It was also around that time that crime began to increase. While I will again return for a month this year, each year I am feeling more unwelcome and much less safe. Hawaii wasn’t so economically dependent on tourism then. Agriculture was a major economic driver. The government allowed thousands of hotel rooms to be built and it continues to do so by allowing Hilton Hawaiian Village to build another massive tower. Then a ridiculous law is passed to ban rentals of less than three months in many areas of Waikiki. No Win!
Rob and Jeff, many alohas to both of you for keeping us in touch with Hawaii.
We have been a pretty frequent visitor to the Hawaiian Islands. We have seen almost all visitors to Hawaii, treat the people, land and animal life with great respect. Unfortunately we have seen the entitled visit and act like everything should be about them.
Our first visit to the Island of Hawaii was this year. Planning the trip, I felt that the Hilo locals would not give us much kindness or respect. How wrong I was. Absolutely thrilled meeting the Hilo folks, they treated us as fellow people not as a customer. Kailua-Kona, made us feel like we were in Fort Lauderdale, no thank you.
As much as the few entitled upset us, let’s focus on the love from the rest.
I’m a visitor for the past 20 years to Kauai. and Maui My husband and I even traveled to Kauai during COVID, making sure we have negative tests and brought proper medications, doctor’s instructions, and extra tests should one of us come down with it. We spent about $500 per trip just for testing. Even with all the COVID measures we found the residents on the islands to be kind, friendly, and helpful…..other than the rental car agents at the airport! We visited Maui and Kauai in 2022 and found the same friendliness, although a little slower, but hey…..we’re on Hawaiian time. About the drivers…… yea……they can be a problem tailgating, driving too fast and sometime recklessly.
What interesting timing for me with your article today. I am a Kauai resident close to 4 years. I am affiliated with volunteer guardianship of Poipu Honu organization and stand on the sand about 20-25 hours a month for a little over a year now. About 2 times a month I deal with the nastiest, most foul mouthed, disrespectful Honu watcher; each time self-proclaimed “resident who knows what is legal and what (s)he can do around Honu, as they walk with family/friends up close and personal for pictures with flash, etc. I count between 350-600 visitors to the Honu each time I work. So far, I say the worst offenders of Aloha and respect live on our beautiful island. Sad
Aloha and mahalo BoH gents! Working from phone and I didn’t get my proofing done before I hit that post button. Appreciate your news of out state, always.
As a visitor to Kauai every year except 2020 for 14 years now. I am so glad when the volunteers are on the beach to control the crazies. I’ve especially witnessed this at Poipu with people not allowing the Honu space to come in and rest or getting right in their eyes and using their flash on their cameras. Last time we visited I did not see a volunteer,that did not stop me from standing up for the Honu. I repeatedly told people if you back up you will be blessed with their presence. And please would you want a flash right in your eyes. I said those things out of respect for the Honu and for the many times I have seen the diligent volunteer protection the Honu. Thank you
Profound Sadness. What ever has happened to the humanity? We are all created with the same love and kindess. So. . . why not be the one who makes a difference and extend that love and kindness to all whom we encounter? If we keep this at that fore, then perhaps we will see the affect begin to ripple around us. Hawaii’s culture is Aloha. May we see it as a privilege to be a part of it.
A daily part of living in our Haena-Wainiha neighborhood (north shore Kauai) is getting stuck behind a “15er” – the local nickname for tourists who go too slow on the highway. I get that people are in awe at the views, or overly cautious because they are unfamiliar with the road. I try not to tailgate, but that’s tough to avoid when you get stuck behind someone going 10 MPH in a 35 MPH zone for an extended distance. If you are crawling along and a line of vehicles has formed behind you, pull over. Not everyone here is on vacation.
It’s great if you feel safer going slow, a person has to know their limitation. Distracted driving, no good. Pull over and let us pass.
We will not have to talk about each other any more.
Great article! It only states the obvious Rude people are everywhere! Even Hawaii has their share of jerks. It only takes a few to cast a shadow over the many. Civility and kindness still go a long way
Thank you for all that you do.
As a visitor,I have experienced rude visitor behavior at the resort check- in desk with several people demanding a better room location, claiming that when they bought their timeshare they would be assured a specific room location. Watching the staff’s frustration I actually felt embarrassed as a visitor. To move forward I think we visitors have to focus on the fact it is a privilege to be in a place of such beauty.
To be honest… We’ve given up on traveling to Hawaii for a while. Costs have gone sky high when they were already quite exorbitant. We had 2 trips almost planned this last year and then decided against it. We can go to other places that are just as nice for a lot less. We’ve always respected the islands and the people. Our daughter went to college there. But things are just not the same anymore. We actually started feeling this way just prior to covid because the last time we were there, foreigners were ridiculously rude and obnoxious. Then after covid,the costs, all the additional fees and all the unwelcomeness just pushed us away. Oahu and kauai used to be our favorite places to vacation.
Sure, the drunkard at Moose McGillicuddys is a louse. But they’re in every town almost every night. The fact that you even bring it up shows it’s rare in Maui and not reflective of how most visitors behave. If politicians start using people like her and the creep who peed on Mauna Kea as why we need to change things, the whole state is doomed.
We don’t all have to sing “Kumbaya” about everything. But all this finger-pointing, fee-gouging of tourists and empty threats of “green entrance fees” are threatening the golden goose. The governor wants Hawaii to move beyond tourism? Good luck with that.
Don’t spoil it for those who come to visit, especially those, like me, who keep coming back. We promise to do the same.
Having spent 6 years of my youth on Oahu, I know firsthand there is an undercurrent of resentment that exist toward “haoles” on the islands. It is now being exacerbated by the overwhelming number of “haoles” visiting the islands post-Covid. When you’re not welcomed in the first place by many islanders, emotions often surface at the disrespect (real or imagined) haoles might display. The instances you cited are prevalent everywhere in everyone, Islanders or haoles. But when many locals have little regard for their temporary visitors to begin with, then reactions can get overblown. People who misbehave in public are selfish idiots everyday, not just when they visit the islands.
Interesting choice of terms. Never forget that Malahinis are often Hoales. Just having a local Drivers License does not mean one is of the land. Distrust of Hoales is a feature of the cultures of Island Peoples as it is with the Japanese, the British etc etc.
It still smells of racism to call someone a hoale or to refer to oneself as a local as if that somehow makes ones-self better then another. Also, Those coming to the island are not the only ones with a sense of entitlement, Hawaiians themselves express this attitude toward the land which, like it or not is a U.S. state. Every society has a footprint of having been conquered and taken over by some other people group. Mainlanders are visitors not intruders. Lets educate both side of the asile. Airlines can hand out visitor Education pamphlets and TV & schools can educate islanders but in the end you will still have blunted intelligence on both sides as it is human nature but education can help reduce the impact of blunted intelligence.
Our family visited the Big Island in 2018, staying on the Kona coast in a condo looking inland to the valley between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa with the town of Waikoloa visible in the distance… spectacular vista. It was the best vacation we had. With prices ever increasing and bad behavior erupting all around, I doubt we’ll return. There’s just too many people wanting the same limited things.
Can’t have your cake and eat it too.
They want to be left alone but want your moolah.
Maybe on the flights to Hawaii there can be done literature on what is polite as a tourist. Might sound simple but a simple reminder might work. I love Hawaii and would never want to disrespect it
I gotta say some of the locals need to pay more respect to the country side ,I have never seen so many abandoned cars and large appliances on the side of the road until I visited Hawaii.
Let’s not forget that most people living in Hawai’i are not native Hawaiian. Many Filipinos, Asian Pacific, Japanese descent, European descent, and a mix of all. Most likely the original Hawaiian people would be very disappointed on what happened to their land , beaches and Ocean. One time I was driving from Waipio along the road, and on one of the turnouts I saw a local boy throwing plastic trash bags over the cliff into the ocean. He was basically using that spot as a dump because he didn’t want to pay for trash removal. It’s sad because most of that stuff will never be recovered it will just be on that cliffside in the trees, with some of it reaching the ocean. This plastic waste could be around for hundreds of years to come.
I end up having to drive the saddle highway (Daniel K Inouye Hwy) on the big island every Friday to Kona and back to Hilo More or less for the last 10 years. I’ve been a part of highway cleanup efforts so I always make note of the amount of trash on the side of the road between certain mile markers on my way up (I’m kind of a nerd I know). These trips continued through the shutdown during the great absence of tourists. What did I observe? The amount of new trash on the side of the road every week was actually worse during the shutdown. Giving my personal observations, tourists are not the litter bugs. I wonder how many other bad behaviors are misplaced on them. Just a thought!
We have visited Kauai for many years. Have never encountered rudeness, nor felt threatened anywhere we have been. We thought maybe we were just lucky..but friends we’ve made on the Island told us it is what we bring to the table…
Maybe you missed the Resident parking only on a beach that doesn’t have resident parking only, or maybe you missed the sign that says stop stealing the glass from glass beach when in reality it comes from trash pulled into the ocean and washing back up and if you didn’t pick it up someone else would you simply can not end glass and shell collecting. By in large most people have no trouble when they come to Kauai, but does Kauai have an attitude problem, yes it does
As Hawai’i becomes more & more crowded with not only tourists, and tour companies which do tend to over exploit snorkeling spots, and other habitats like Manta feeding zones, & small beaches & coves- it is also just the volume of people now living in Hawai’i. The more people,the more chance for littering,& foolish, disrespectful conduct. Fishing line, fishing hooks, plastic containers, straws, water bottles, littered on the roadsides,and coastline are not all tourists of course. I guess most people in general within a population just don’t care that much. Living or visiting paradise comes with a certain amount of awareness and class. We’ll never be able to change everyone’s behavior,But We can do away with al single use plastics until then!
My wife and I recently visited Maui for our 25th anniversary. Never been to Hawaii and being temperature deprived Canadians, we were super excited for this trip. For the most part, the staff at hotels and restaurants were very friendly and open as well as some locals. The animosity that we did experience was the honking, swearing, illegal passing local on the road to Hana. How dare we stick to the posted speed limit! A sticker on a local surfer’s truck, “Welcome to Hawaii, now leave”. Or a self appointed sign, warning tourists from using parking space, reserved for local surfer’s. Despite that and the number of abandoned vehicles and the heartbreaking number of homeless, we enjoyed ourselves and gained a love for the land and rich culture.
“Welcome to Hawaii, now leave”
Reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw in Colorado not long after they legalized weed:
“You got high, Now go home”
My great grandparents came here as immigrants about a hundred years ago. We live comfortably and raised our two children here. There are limited job opportunities here with crazy housing prices and the cost of living in general. I work in the tourism industry and can honestly say not all the locals are out to terrorize you visitors. The Aloha Spirit is still alive but many of our youth are looking to blame someone for not being able to afford to live in the paradise they were born into. To sum it up, I would say we all can do better.
I will have 5 yrs on Maui this July.
I think I experienced what alot of locals are upset about by tourism.
When covid hit, and it was only locals here for a little over a year, the beaches weren’t crowded, the streets weren’t crowded. We all got to experience our home with our neighbors.
For myself, it was the best experience I’ve had here.
Then the gates open up and twice of many people are here. I go to the Kam beaches now, and feel like the only local there.
I have to move out of Kihei before I push down a tent someone sets up in front of me at the beach. This feeling of living Aloha with my neighbors, has wiped away Aloha for visitors.
My husband and I sold our house and needed somewhere to live for the winter. We thought about it and decided why not Hawaii? We rented a condo and had our car shipped over. The very day that we picked up our car, someone keyed it! We still had our California plates on it as we were going to the DMV the next day to get Hawaii plates. We soon realized that there was a definite prejudice towards Californians and decided not to tell locals who asked where we were from. We had nothing but respect for this incredibly beautiful and sacred place to the point where we didn’t go to beaches on Sunday’s so the locals could enjoy it with their families etc. Respect has to go both ways though. Like it or not, Hawaii is part of the USA!
Throughout Hawaii I have found abandoned cars and trucks left to rot, it’s really an eye sore and clearly the work of residents not tourists.
Hi there! The timing of this article is so funny because my husband and I along with another couple visited Oahu in 2021 and then Maui just last month. We were just talking about all of the trash (abandoned cars and washing machines, dryers, other large appliances) that dot the roads on both islands. I diligently read BOH and other articles where the government and other locals blame the tourists for not respecting the land and the safety of the environment, but we were all pretty certain that it wasn’t tourists bringing their appliances/large trash to discard on the highways of the islands. We All have to do our part, we will continue to do so. Thanks so much BOH for all of your articles!
Hi Jaime.
Thanks. We hope that otherwise, you had a great time on Maui!
Aloha.
We did have a great time! It was beautiful and we can’t wait to come back and visit Kauai next time!
We have visited Kauai for many years. Have never encountered rudeness, nor felt threatened anywhere we have been. We thought maybe we were just lucky..but friends we’ve made on the Island told us it is what we bring to the table…
I’ve lived in Hawaii for most of my life. My observation is that most visitors act respectfully in Hawaii. I am saddened by the increasingly hostile behavior of residents.I drive a small car and feel unsafe and bullied on the roads by tailgating and squeezed into parking monopolized by large trucks.I feel like the quality of life in Hawaii has deteriorated because of the lack of civility.
Ditch HI and go to Mexico! The people are so friendly and want you to come there because it raises their standard of living. And Mexico is so gorgeous! I always try to speak Spanish and they are always so appreciative. I’m done with the faux Polynesian “culture” on the islands. Mexico is authentic and welcoming.
Heard tourists were getting kicked around mexico
news.yahoo.com/state-dept-issues-cancun-travel-153712888.html
Ditch HI and Mexico…go to thailand! They really love tourist money and it’s cheep! A safer option to mexico.
Hello. I’m a Caucasian resident of Oahu. Been here 8ish years. I’m not military so I actually live here. I came here to raise my family. We own a nice house. By and large, this move was a huge success. We are all pretty happy here. But, a person not born here begins to notice things after a while. The natives are generally not ok with white people, tourists or other. They call people like me “haole” and it’s usually said with an F-bomb preceding it. Hawaiians are quietly racist and many still say the “you stole My aina” stuff. Then they trash the place with burned cars and garbage everywhere. So, uh, what? They also sell clothing here called “Defend Hawaii” and it’s clearly directed at white people- bc I asked and it got real awkward quickl
Aloha-
Respect. Respect for nature, both the land and the animals. Respect for people; those who live in the area and are graciously sharing their home with visitors, those who work in hospitality and are trying to meet the needs of those visiting and the needs of the companies they work for, and those who are choosing to spend a good portion of their income to briefly experience this unique location while relaxing and recharging from their own hectic and burdened lives back home.
Understanding. Understanding that often what benefits one simultaneously burdens another. Understanding that it is often hard to see how your own wants, needs and desires could possibly ‘burden’ another.
Respect and understanding. It goes a long way.
My husband and I have been visiting all of the islands fir 20+ years. The last 10 years we have settled on our favorite location which is renting condos in the Mauna Lani area several times a year. Unfortunately the cost of everything in Hawaii has become offensive. We can afford the high costs but choose not to. So we now spend our beach vacations in Costa Rica or the Caribbean. We do miss Hawaii but don’t know when we will return.
Yet another “Us vs. Them“ article. Sigh…I’ll play anyway (I have no shame). As a long-standing resident of Hawaii, I believe that this is a complex, dynamic problem that is mostly rooted in economics. The financially stressed locals resent tourists since in their eyes tourists perpetuate the service economy that will never offer a true living wage. The tourists resent the “uppity” locals because they feel they are owed deference, given the very high cost of vacationing in Hawaii. Watching all of this from the sidelines, laughing, are the mega corporations (airlines, hotels, realty). None of this will change until Hawaii figures out how to shift its economy from tourism to something else. I hope that it happens in my lifetime (probably not).
Bingo!
Making weed legal here would bring the state out of tourist only income. Grow the industry. What the hell are they waiting for? DisneyAloha!!
Yeah, just what Maui needs. A bunch of stoned out dopers driving the already dangerous Honoapiilani Highway.
Aloha. Thank you for this great article. I forwarded it on to many people, some who live on BI, and others here in CA. I lived on the BI till March this year. Sad to leave, yes, but all you mention about residents has been my personal experience. I moved there in 2007. I was always diligent and paid trash fees. Recycled. Etc. The garbage on the roads didn’t go unnoticed however. These were not “tourists”. These are angry locals. I have been almost run off of twisty roads, been treated rudely, and in some cases, ignored. My feeling in this is, if you don’t like it, go somewhere else. Natives, locals, Live Aloha, don’t blame others for your anguish.
With alelo ma ka papalina, let me offer some suggestions to the topic of toxic tourists and residents.
If caught touching an endangered creature have a creature touch them (like a jellyfish).
If caught biting a police officer or flight attendent have a Hawaiian bite them (like a tiger shark).
If caught urinating in public let the public urinate on them.
Too harsh? Maybe.
However, disorderly behavior causing flight deviation/physical restrant the perp will be placed on the TSA No Fly List. Sanction length to be determined by the victims, the fellow passengers.
Felonious conduct in Hawaii by tourists should be punished with a lifetime ban to return at the conclusion to their imprisonment.
It’s up to you Hawaii, your house, your rules.
I am so sorry to read about these happenings. As travelers, we try in every way to respect the place we’re visiting and to get in touch with the culture. We love Hawaii, however, since COVID and since the increase in costs, we’ve redirected our travel dollar to South America, Europe and Costa Rica. We had several disconcerting experiences with locals on our last visit. We were heading down to the beach area and got sidetracked on a small road and attempted to turn around. The local out in his yard was very rude to us. Driving down from Hana, we were tailgated by a local in a huge 4-wheeler with giant tires. He revved his engine all the way down. Clearly, a lot of animosity toward tourists.
My first visit to Hawaii was in 1972. Since then I have returned almost every year. Two summers I took post graduate classes at the University. A few years before the Pandemic I started to feel less welcomed. It was also around that time that crime began to increase. While I will again return for a month this year, each year I am feeling more unwelcome and much less safe. Hawaii wasn’t so economically dependent on tourism then. Agriculture was a major economic driver. The government allowed thousands of hotel rooms to be built and it continues to do so by allowing Hilton Hawaiian Village to build another massive tower. Then a ridiculous law is passed to ban rentals of less than three months in many areas of Waikiki. No Win!
Rob and Jeff, many alohas to both of you for keeping us in touch with Hawaii.
We have been a pretty frequent visitor to the Hawaiian Islands. We have seen almost all visitors to Hawaii, treat the people, land and animal life with great respect. Unfortunately we have seen the entitled visit and act like everything should be about them.
Our first visit to the Island of Hawaii was this year. Planning the trip, I felt that the Hilo locals would not give us much kindness or respect. How wrong I was. Absolutely thrilled meeting the Hilo folks, they treated us as fellow people not as a customer. Kailua-Kona, made us feel like we were in Fort Lauderdale, no thank you.
As much as the few entitled upset us, let’s focus on the love from the rest.
Hi John.
Thank you. We’re glad you had a great time in Hilo. It’s a BOH favorite Hawaii destination too!
Aloha.
I’m a visitor for the past 20 years to Kauai. and Maui My husband and I even traveled to Kauai during COVID, making sure we have negative tests and brought proper medications, doctor’s instructions, and extra tests should one of us come down with it. We spent about $500 per trip just for testing. Even with all the COVID measures we found the residents on the islands to be kind, friendly, and helpful…..other than the rental car agents at the airport! We visited Maui and Kauai in 2022 and found the same friendliness, although a little slower, but hey…..we’re on Hawaiian time. About the drivers…… yea……they can be a problem tailgating, driving too fast and sometime recklessly.
What interesting timing for me with your article today. I am a Kauai resident close to 4 years. I am affiliated with volunteer guardianship of Poipu Honu organization and stand on the sand about 20-25 hours a month for a little over a year now. About 2 times a month I deal with the nastiest, most foul mouthed, disrespectful Honu watcher; each time self-proclaimed “resident who knows what is legal and what (s)he can do around Honu, as they walk with family/friends up close and personal for pictures with flash, etc. I count between 350-600 visitors to the Honu each time I work. So far, I say the worst offenders of Aloha and respect live on our beautiful island. Sad
Aloha and mahalo BoH gents! Working from phone and I didn’t get my proofing done before I hit that post button. Appreciate your news of out state, always.
Hi Kitty.
Thanks for your comment about the Honu.
Aloha.
As a visitor to Kauai every year except 2020 for 14 years now. I am so glad when the volunteers are on the beach to control the crazies. I’ve especially witnessed this at Poipu with people not allowing the Honu space to come in and rest or getting right in their eyes and using their flash on their cameras. Last time we visited I did not see a volunteer,that did not stop me from standing up for the Honu. I repeatedly told people if you back up you will be blessed with their presence. And please would you want a flash right in your eyes. I said those things out of respect for the Honu and for the many times I have seen the diligent volunteer protection the Honu. Thank you
Profound Sadness. What ever has happened to the humanity? We are all created with the same love and kindess. So. . . why not be the one who makes a difference and extend that love and kindness to all whom we encounter? If we keep this at that fore, then perhaps we will see the affect begin to ripple around us. Hawaii’s culture is Aloha. May we see it as a privilege to be a part of it.
A daily part of living in our Haena-Wainiha neighborhood (north shore Kauai) is getting stuck behind a “15er” – the local nickname for tourists who go too slow on the highway. I get that people are in awe at the views, or overly cautious because they are unfamiliar with the road. I try not to tailgate, but that’s tough to avoid when you get stuck behind someone going 10 MPH in a 35 MPH zone for an extended distance. If you are crawling along and a line of vehicles has formed behind you, pull over. Not everyone here is on vacation.
Don’t get me started on the bridge crossings.
Even as a tourist……Agree! Pull over and be courteous to others.
It’s great if you feel safer going slow, a person has to know their limitation. Distracted driving, no good. Pull over and let us pass.
We will not have to talk about each other any more.
Great article! It only states the obvious Rude people are everywhere! Even Hawaii has their share of jerks. It only takes a few to cast a shadow over the many. Civility and kindness still go a long way
Hi David.
Thank you. We appreciate your comments.
Aloha.
Thank you for all that you do.
As a visitor,I have experienced rude visitor behavior at the resort check- in desk with several people demanding a better room location, claiming that when they bought their timeshare they would be assured a specific room location. Watching the staff’s frustration I actually felt embarrassed as a visitor. To move forward I think we visitors have to focus on the fact it is a privilege to be in a place of such beauty.
Hi Jim.
Thanks. Very interesting comments coming in. We appreciate yours.
Aloha.
Visitor, malahini or kama’aina; the secret is to think less about ourselves and more about others. Not rocket science. Have a great day everyone.
To be honest… We’ve given up on traveling to Hawaii for a while. Costs have gone sky high when they were already quite exorbitant. We had 2 trips almost planned this last year and then decided against it. We can go to other places that are just as nice for a lot less. We’ve always respected the islands and the people. Our daughter went to college there. But things are just not the same anymore. We actually started feeling this way just prior to covid because the last time we were there, foreigners were ridiculously rude and obnoxious. Then after covid,the costs, all the additional fees and all the unwelcomeness just pushed us away. Oahu and kauai used to be our favorite places to vacation.
Sure, the drunkard at Moose McGillicuddys is a louse. But they’re in every town almost every night. The fact that you even bring it up shows it’s rare in Maui and not reflective of how most visitors behave. If politicians start using people like her and the creep who peed on Mauna Kea as why we need to change things, the whole state is doomed.
We don’t all have to sing “Kumbaya” about everything. But all this finger-pointing, fee-gouging of tourists and empty threats of “green entrance fees” are threatening the golden goose. The governor wants Hawaii to move beyond tourism? Good luck with that.
Don’t spoil it for those who come to visit, especially those, like me, who keep coming back. We promise to do the same.